conscience of the court legal definition

A trial courtÂ’s equitable power to resolve a dispute by applying the communityÂ’s (but not the judgeÂ’s personal) notions of decency, fairness, and justice.

Phrase used when a trial judge determines that a jury or the parties to an action acted beyond certain limits of decency and fairness. Such a determination will be grounds for invalidating an award or verdict of the jury or a contract or other act of the parties.